Terminal apparatus and information transmission method

ABSTRACT

A terminal apparatus includes: an operation unit; a time clocking unit performing time clocking; a communication unit performing communication with an external apparatus; and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a time synchronization processing for clocked time synchronization with the external apparatus having a time clocking unit, a time information acquisition processing to acquire clocked time information by the time clocking unit with a timing at which an operation is made on the operation unit, and a transmission control processing to control the time information acquired by the time information acquisition processing to be transmitted to the external apparatus through the communication unit.

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. JP 2008-150640 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jun. 9, 2008,the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique for putting a mark at anecessary position of time-series data, such as motion image data orsound data, and in particular, to a terminal apparatus, which serves asan input apparatus for specifying and inputting an insertion position ofthe mark, and to an information transmission method for a terminalapparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A video camera apparatus for motion image recording comes into wide use.As the video camera apparatus, for example, a so-called commercial videocamera apparatus that is used by a broadcasting engineer or the like isgiven various functions to facilitate ease of edition afterphotographing.

For example, a video camera apparatus is known which has a function toput a mark on recorded data by an operation of a predetermined buttonprovided in a camera main body during photographing. For example, a markmay be put at an interest point of an event during coverage (forexample, a homerun scene during coverage on a baseball game or thelike), and the interest point may be smoothly cued by the mark at thetime of edition afterward. In this way, smooth edition can be achieved.

JP-A-2004-72132, JP-A-2007-82088, and JP-A-2007-305213 are examples ofthe related art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At present, the mark is put by an operation of a button provided in thecamera main body, as described above. That is, in the related art, themark is assumed to be put by a cameraman.

However, since the cameraman centers his/her attention on photographingduring coverage, it is difficult for the cameraman to operate the markbutton with appropriate timing. According to the circumstances, thecameraman may not operate the mark button.

From this viewpoint, in the known coverage system, a marking function isnot effectively used.

In consideration of the above problems, there is provided a terminalapparatus having the following configuration.

That is, a terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention includes an operation unit, a time clocking unit performingtime clocking, a communication unit performing communication with anexternal apparatus, and a control unit.

The control unit executes a time synchronization processing for clockedtime synchronization with the external apparatus having a time clockingunit.

With timing at which an operation is made on the operation unit, a timeinformation acquisition processing to acquire clocked time informationby the time clocking unit, and a transmission control processing tocontrol the time information acquired by the time informationacquisition processing to be transmitted to the external apparatusthrough the communication unit are performed.

With this configuration, it is possible to implement a terminalapparatus that transmits information about a marking timing specified byan operation to an external apparatus. Therefore, the externalapparatus, such as a video camera apparatus or the like, which receivesthe information about the marking timing, can put a mark at a positionof time-series data, such as motion image data or the like, designatedby the received information about the marking timing.

If a system including the terminal apparatus according to the embodimentof the invention is implemented, marking can be carried out by anoperation input to the terminal apparatus rather than an operation inputto an apparatus, such as a video camera apparatus or the like, whichactually performs recording of time-series data. Therefore, marking canbe carried out by an instruction of a third person who uses the terminalapparatus, rather than a person who records time-series data, such as acameraman or the like.

According to the embodiment of the invention, a third person other thana person who records time-series data can specify the marking timing. Asa result, the marking timing can be specified reliably and withappropriate timing, as compared with the known coverage system in whicha person who records time-series data has to personally put a mark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overview of a marking system accordingto a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a marktable for mark position management;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of aterminal apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a signalprocessing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams schematically showing an operation in themarking system of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a cliptable;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a timelist;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a processing which shouldbe executed in the marking system of the embodiment at the time ofpairing before coverage;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a processing which shouldbe executed in the signal processing apparatus of the embodiment when aclip table is generated;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a processing which shouldbe executed in the terminal apparatus of the first embodiment at thetime of coverage;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a processing which shouldbe executed in the signal processing apparatus of the first embodimentat the time of coverage;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of aterminal apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of asignal processing apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams schematically showing an operation in amarking system of the second embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a processing which shouldbe executed in the terminal apparatus of the second embodiment at thetime of coverage;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a processing which shouldbe executed in the signal processing apparatus of the second embodimentat the time of coverage;

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing an operation in a markingsystem when marking is carried out by an edition instrument aftercoverage; and

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of anedition instrument.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Best modes (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) for carrying outthe invention will now be described.

First Embodiment Overview of Marking System

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overview of a marking system 1 as afirst embodiment of the invention, which can be configured on the basisof the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the marking system 1 of this embodiment includes amarker apparatus 2 and a video camera apparatus 3.

The video camera apparatus 3 is configured to perform recording ofcaptured image (motion image) data onto an optical disk D loadedthereon. The video camera apparatus 3 is also configured to play backdata recorded onto the optical disk D.

As will be understood from a subsequent description, the markerapparatus 2 functions as an apparatus for specifying a marking timingfor motion image data photographed and recorded by the video cameraapparatus 3.

In the first embodiment, the marker apparatus 2 and the video cameraapparatus 3 are configured to perform data communication throughwireless communication, such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or thelike.

The marker apparatus 2 and the video camera apparatus 3 are alsoconfigured to perform data communication in a wired manner. In thiscase, the marker apparatus 2 is provided with a USB (Universal SerialBus) connection terminal 2A. The USB connection terminal 2A is connectedto a USB connection terminal (a USB connection terminal 3A which will bedescribed below) provided in the video camera apparatus 3, such thatdata communication can be performed between the marker apparatus 2 andthe video camera apparatus 3.

[Clip and Mark]

In this embodiment, the video camera apparatus 3 records motion imagedata obtained by an imaging operation in a clip file format. Informationabout a mark table for management of a mark position on the time axis ofmotion image data may be attached to the clip file as metadata.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of such amark table.

Information about a mark table is attached to each clip. For thisreason, a mark table stores therein information about a clip No. fordesignating a clip corresponding to mark position information stored inthe mark table. In the drawing, <MarkTable targetMedia=“Clip No. 1”>corresponds to the information about the clip No.

In the mark table, information about a time code is stored asinformation designating a mark position. In this example, as describedbelow, when a clip is recorded, the video camera apparatus 3 putsinformation about a time code representing a time length elapsed sincethe clip starts to be recorded on a frame image basis. For this reason,as described above, if the information about a time code is stored inthe mark table, the position of a mark put on the clip may be specified.

In this example, as the specification, it is configured such thatinformation about a title (in the drawings, “Mark value”) is also storedin each clip. With respect to the title information, when no title inputoperation is made by a user, “No Title” is automatically stored, asshown in the drawing.

The information about the mark table shown in FIG. 2 is finally recordedonto the optical disk D loaded in the video camera apparatus 3 asmetadata of a clip file.

[Configuration of Terminal Apparatus]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of themarker apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 (a terminal apparatus of the firstembodiment).

As shown in the drawing, the marker apparatus 2 includes a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 10, a memory unit 11, an operation unit 12, a clockingunit 13, a wireless communication unit 14, a USB interface 15, and a USBconnection terminal 2A.

The CPU 10 executes various kinds of control and arithmetic processingbased on programs stored in the memory unit 11, and controls the entiremarker apparatus 2.

The memory unit 11 collectively denotes various memories, such as ROM(Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), flash memory, and thelike, which are connected to the CPU.

The memory unit 11 stores therein a control program 11 a that causes theCPU 10 to execute a processing, which should be executed inimplementation of an operation described below according to thisembodiment.

The memory unit 11 also stores therein a marker ID 11 b that is neededin implementation of an operation described below according to thisembodiment. The marker ID 11 b is identification information foridentifying the marker apparatus 2, and has different informationcontents for the individual marker apparatuses 2.

The operation unit 12 has operators provided so as to be exposed throughan outer surface of a casing of the marker apparatus 2, and gives asignal corresponding to an operator, on which an operation is made, tothe CPU 10 as an operation input signal.

In this example, as the operators of the operation unit 12, at least amark button for specifying a timing at which the user should put a markis provided.

The clocking unit 13 performs time clocking. In this example, theclocking unit 13 clocks time in the form of“Year:Month:Day:Hour:Minute:Second”.

The wireless communication unit 14 performs data communication with theexternal apparatus (particularly, in this case, the video cameraapparatus 3 shown in FIG. 1) in a wireless manner under the control ofthe CPU 10. In this example, the wireless communication unit 14 directlyperforms wireless data communication with the external apparatus in thead-hoc mode of wireless LAN (Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) ad-hoc mode).

The USB interface 15 performs data communication based on the USB(Universal Serial Bus) system with the external apparatus (particularly,in this case, the video camera apparatus 3) connected thereto throughthe USB connection terminal 2A under the control of the CPU 10.

[Configuration of Signal Processing Apparatus]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of thevideo camera apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 1 (a signal processing apparatusof the first embodiment).

In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, a description for a soundrecording and reproducing system has not been shown, but a clip fileactually includes sound data. In this case, a sound signal that shouldbe recorded is input through a microphone (not shown).

For recording of a clip file based on captured image data, the videocamera apparatus 3 is provided with a camera block 20, a captured imagesignal processing unit 21, an encoder 22, a camera control unit 23, atime code generation unit 24, and a media drive 25. Of these, thecaptured image signal processing unit 21, the encoder 22, the cameracontrol unit 23, the time code generation unit 24, and the media drive25 are connected to a CPU 30 through a bus 26.

The camera block 20 has an imaging element, such as a CCD (ChargeCoupled Device) sensor array or a CMOS (Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor) sensor array, and an imaging optical system that has acamera lens, a focus mechanism, a zoom mechanism, a diaphragm, and thelike, and forms an image of a subject on the imaging element.

The camera control unit 23 performs on/off control of imaging in thecamera block 20, driving control of the focus lens, and the like on thebasis of an instruction of the CPU 30.

The captured image signal processing unit 21 has a sample hold/AGC(Automatic Gain Control) circuit, which performs gain adjustment orwaveform shaping for a captured image signal obtained by the imagingelement in the camera block 20, and a video A/D converter, and obtainscaptured image data as digital data. The captured image signalprocessing unit 21 performs a white balance processing, a luminanceprocessing, a color signal processing, and the like for captured imagedata.

The encoder 22 performs an encode processing to generate recording datanecessary to record a clip file based on captured image data under thecontrol of the CPU 30.

Specifically, the encoder 22 performs an image compression processing tocompress captured image data supplied from the captured image signalprocessing unit 21 in accordance with a predetermined image compressionsystem, and a multiplex processing to multiplex compressed image data(stream data) in a time-division manner to generate transport (TS)packets. Note that, during the actual multiplex processing, compressedsound data (stream data) based on a sound pickup signal of theabove-described microphone and compressed image stream data aremultiplexed in a time-division manner to generate packets.

At the time of clip recording, the TS packets obtained by the encoder 22are sequentially supplied to the media drive 25.

The media drive 25 performs data recording onto the loaded optical diskD and reproduction of data recorded onto the optical disk D.

At the time of clip recording, the media drive 25 sequentially recordsthe TS packets obtained by the encoder 22 in the above-described manneronto the optical disk D. Information necessary for management of therecorded TS packets as a single clip file is recorded under control ofthe CPU 30 at the end of recording. In this way, a clip file isgenerated on the optical disk D.

At the time of clip recording, the above-described time code is alsorecorded. The time code information generated by the time codegeneration unit 24 is used for time code recording.

That is, the information about the time code (for example,Hour:Minute:Second:Frame) obtained by the time code generation unit 24is supplied to the media drive 25 and recorded onto the optical disk Dso as to be put in a frame unit of the recorded clip.

The time code recording operation is executed under the control of theCPU 30, for example.

At the time of reproduction of the clip file recorded onto the opticaldisk D, the TS packets are read by the media drive 25 from the opticaldisk D and supplied to a decoder 33 through the bus 26 under the controlof the CPU 30.

The decoder 33 performs a multiplex processing for the supplied TSpackets to obtain compressed image data, and performs an expansionprocessing for the compressed image data to obtain digital image data.

In the video camera apparatus 3, for display to a user (in this case, acoverage staff, such as a cameraman or the like), a display unit 32 anda display control unit 31 are provided.

The display unit 32 has a display panel, such as a liquid crystaldisplay or the like, and a display driving unit driving the displaypanel section. The display driving unit has a pixel driving circuit forperforming information display on the display panel. The pixel drivingcircuit applies a driving signal based on an image signal to respectivepixels, which are arranged in a matrix on the display panel, withpredetermined horizontal/vertical driving timing so as to cause thedisplay panel to perform display.

The display control unit 31 drives the pixel driving circuit in thedisplay unit 32 to perform predetermined display under the control ofthe CPU 30 connected thereto through the bus 26. For example, capturedimage data to be obtained by the above-described captured image signalprocessing unit 21 is displayed as a monitor image, or at the time ofclip reproduction, image data obtained by the decoder 33 in theabove-described manner is displayed.

The CPU 30 executes various kinds of control and operation processingbased on a program stored in a memory unit 29 to control the entirevideo camera apparatus 3. The memory unit 29 collectively denotesvarious memories, such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random AccessMemory), a flash memory, and the like, which are connected to the CPU.

The memory unit 29 stores a marking program 29 a that causes the CPU 30to execute a processing, which should be executed in implementation ofan operation described below according to this embodiment.

An operation unit 27 is connected to the CPU 30. The operation unit 27has operators provided so as to be exposed through an outer surface of acasing of the video camera apparatus 3, and gives a signal correspondingto an operator, on which an operation is made, to the CPU 30 as anoperation input signal.

As the operators provided in the operation unit 27, for example, arecording start button for instructing to start clip recording, and arecording stop button for instructing to stop clip recording may beexemplified. As an operation input signal corresponding to the recordingstart button is supplied, the CPU 30 causes the encoder 22 to generatethe TS packets or causes the media drive 25 to record the TS packetsonto the optical disk D. When operation input information correspondingto the recording stop button is supplied, the CPU 30 causes the encoder22 to stop generation of the TS packets, and causes the media drive 25to record necessary information onto the optical disk D, therebygenerating a clip file.

A clocking unit 28 is also connected to the CPU 30. Like the clockingunit 13, the clocking unit 28 clocks time in the form of“Year:Month:Day:Hour:Minute:Second”.

A wireless communication unit 34 and a USB interface 35 are alsoconnected to the CPU 30 through the bus 26.

The wireless communication unit 34 performs data communication with theexternal apparatus (particularly, in this case, the marker apparatus 2)in a wireless manner under the control of the CPU 30. The wirelesscommunication unit 34 is also configured so as to perform wireless datacommunication with the external apparatus in the ad-hoc mode of wirelessLAN (Wi-Fi ad-hoc mode).

The USB interface 35 performs data communication based on the USB systemwith the external apparatus (particular, in this case, the markerapparatus 2) connected thereto through a USB connection terminal 3Aunder the control of the CPU 30.

[Marking Operation of First Embodiment]

In the first embodiment, it is assumed that marking is carried out atthe time of coverage.

Note that broadcasting contents are generally produced through a processincluding photographing of a motion image (video) as a source(coverage), and edition and processing of photographed source video. Inthe first embodiment, it is assumed that marking is carried out at thetime of coverage in the broadcasting contents production process.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams schematically showing an operation in themarking system 1 of the first embodiment.

First, in implementation of the marking operation of this embodiment, asshown in FIG. 5A, before coverage, it is necessary to perform pairingbetween the marker apparatus 2 and the video camera apparatus 3beforehand.

Specifically, the marker apparatus 2 is USB-connected to the videocamera apparatus 3 that is used for coverage, clocked timesynchronization is performed, and a marker ID (marker ID 11 b) that isstored in the marker apparatus 2 is registered in the video cameraapparatus 3.

In this example, for pairing, time synchronization and marker IDregistration are performed mainly by the video camera apparatus 3.

Specifically, in this case, as a predetermined operation input is made,the video camera apparatus 3 displays a function display screen fordisplay of information regarding functions mounted on the video cameraapparatus 3 on the display unit 32. The user assigns a function of“Pairing” on the function display screen to instruct execution ofpairing with the USB-connected marker apparatus 2.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that pairing betweenthe marker apparatus 2 and a plurality of video camera apparatuses 3 isexecuted.

In the video camera apparatus 3 of this embodiment, after the marker IDis registered through the above-described pairing, the registered markerID is recorded in association with the recorded clip. In other words,the clip file recorded onto the optical disk D is associated with themarker apparatus 2 with which pairing is performed. Therefore, it ispossible to identify which clip file recorded onto the optical disk D isrecorded after pairing with which marker apparatus 2.

Specifically, the association between the clip file and the marker ID isimplemented by recording information as a clip table shown in FIG. 6onto the optical disk D.

As shown in the drawing, the clip table stores information about themarker ID registered through pairing and information about the clip No.of a clip file recorded onto the optical disk D with the correspondingmarker ID registered. The information about a clip No. is No.information that, each time a clip is recorded, is put on the recordedclip by the CPU 30.

With the above-described data structure, the correspondence relationshipregarding which clip recorded onto the optical disk D is recorded at thetime of pairing with which marker apparatus 2 is represented.

As shown in the drawing, in addition to the information about the clipNo. of each clip file, the clip table also stores information about therecording start time of the clip file specified by the clip No. That is,in this example, the clip table has a function to represent thecorrespondence relationship regarding which clip recorded onto theoptical disk D is recorded after pairing with which marker apparatus 2,and a function to display information about the recording start time ofeach of the clips recorded onto the optical disk D.

As will be understood from a subsequent description, the informationabout the recording start time of each clip in the clip table is used tospecify the correspondence relationship between the mark time and theclip.

For confirmation, a description will be provided for an operation togenerate and record the clip table in the video camera apparatus 3.

In this case, if it is time that a clip should start to be recorded, thevideo camera apparatus 3 first acquires current time information clockedby the clocking unit 28. That is, information about a recording starttime of a clip is acquired.

Thereafter, it is discriminated whether or not a clip is unrecorded ontothe loaded optical disk D or the like. In this case, the video cameraapparatus 3 reads out management information or the like to be recordedonto the optical disk D with the timing at which the optical disk D isloaded, and determines whether a clip table is recorded or unrecorded.When recording starts, the discrimination on whether or not a clip isunrecorded may be performed on the basis of information about thedetermination result.

If it is discriminated that a clip is unrecorded onto the optical diskD, it is necessary to newly generate a clip table. Accordingly, in thiscase, a new clip table in which the marker ID registered throughpairing, No. information of a clip to be newly recorded, and theinformation about recording start time acquired in the above-describedmanner are stored is generated.

When a clip has already been recorded onto the optical disk D, there isa possibility that a clip table with a marker ID identical to theregistered marker ID is recorded onto the optical disk D. In this case,it is discriminated whether or not there is a clip table with a markerID identical to the registered marker ID from among the clip tables tobe recorded onto the optical disk D. When there is a clip table with anidentical marker ID, information with the acquired current timeinformation is generated with respect to the corresponding clip table.For example, in a state where the clip table of FIG. 6 is recorded ontothe optical disk D and the registered marker ID is “0001”, if it is timethat a new clip should start to be recorded, information withinformation about the clip No. 3 and the acquired information aboutrecording start time is generated with respect to the clip table shownin FIG. 6.

When there is no clip table with a marker ID identical to the registeredmarker ID from among the clip tables to be recorded on the optical diskD, similarly to when a clip is unrecorded onto the optical disk D, a newclip table in which the registered marker ID, the clip No., and therecording start time are stored is generated.

In this instance, information about the newly generated clip table isrecorded onto the optical disk D with a predetermined timing, forexample, with the timing at which the clip recording operation ends.

As described above, when there is already a clip table with a marker IDidentical to the registered marker ID in the optical disk D, theinformation contents of the corresponding clip table to be recorded ontothe optical disk D are updated. This update is performed with apredetermined timing, for example, with the timing at which cliprecording ends.

A further description will be provided with reference to FIGS. 5A and5B.

FIG. 5B schematically shows the operation in the marking system 1,specifically, in each of the marker apparatus 2 and the video cameraapparatus 3, at the time of coverage after the above-described pairingbefore coverage is performed.

Note that, at the time of coverage, each cameraman photographs (records)an object of coverage by the video camera apparatus 3 with the opticaldisk D loaded, and a person, such as a director or the like, other thanthe cameraman holds the marker apparatus 2 and operates a button of themarker apparatus 2 to execute an input to designate a marking timing.

In FIG. 5B, the marker apparatus 2 first acquires, as mark timeinformation, time information when a button operation is made, as shownin <1> of the drawing. That is, as an operation of the mark buttonprovided in the operation unit 12 described above is made, clocked timeinformation of the clocking unit 13 with that timing is acquired as marktime information.

If the mark time information is acquired in such a manner, as shown in<2>, the acquired mark time information is added to the time list.

In this case, the marker apparatus 2 retains the mark time informationacquired in accordance with the button operation as the time list withthe structure shown in FIG. 7. That is, with the time list, the acquiredmark time information is listed and retained, together with previousmark time information.

In the time list, information about the marker ID 11 b stored in thememory unit 11 is put on the list of mark time information (in thedrawing, “MarkerID=“0001””). If the information about the marker ID 11 bis included in the time list, the external apparatus that receives thecorresponding time list can identify the marker apparatus 2 as thetransmission source of the time list.

Returning to FIG. 5B, the marker apparatus 2 performs the operation of<2>, and also transmits the time list, as shown in <3>.

At the time of coverage, the video camera apparatus 3 is used tophotograph the object, and accordingly it is difficult to USB-connectthe marker apparatus 2 to the video camera apparatus 3. For this reason,at the time of coverage, the time list is transmitted through wirelesscommunication using the wireless communication unit 14.

The time list may be transmitted when the mark button operation is made,but in this embodiment, the time list is automatically transmitted at apredetermined time interval, regardless of the mark button operation.

At the time of coverage, as described above, the time list istransmitted through wireless communication. For this reason, datacommunication may be failed due to elective wave conditions or the like.When the time list is transmitted only when the mark button operation ismade, if transmission is failed, the video camera apparatus 3 cannotreceive new mark time information. From this viewpoint, in this example,the time list is automatically transmitted at a predetermined timeinterval. Therefore, data retransmission can be tried after transmissionis failed, and thus the video camera apparatus 3 can reliably receivethe time list.

Next, the operation in the video camera apparatus 3 will be described.

At the time of coverage, as shown in <4>, if the time list transmittedfrom the marker apparatus 2 is received, the video camera apparatus 3checks whether or not a marker ID is registered beforehand, as shown in<5>. That is, it is checked whether or not a marker ID attached to thereceived time list is identical to the marker ID at the time of pairingin FIG. 5A.

If the marker IDs are identical, it is determined that the markerapparatus 2 which transmits the time list is registered beforehand.Meanwhile, when the marker IDs are not identical, it is determined thatthe marker apparatus 2 which transmits the time list is not recordedbeforehand.

Though not shown, when the marker IDs are not identical, marking basedon the received time list is not carried out in order to preventunintended marking. Specifically, in this case, if it is determined thatthe marker IDs are not identical, the video camera apparatus 3 waitsuntil a new time list is received.

If it is determined that the marker IDs are identical, as shown in <6>,unacquired mark time information in the time list is first acquired.Thereafter, as shown in <7>, a clip corresponding to the mark timeinformation is specified on the basis of the information contents of theclip table.

As will be understood from the description of FIG. 6, the clip tablerepresents the recording start time of each of the clips recorded ontothe optical disk D. Therefore, on the basis of the information contentsof the clip table, it is possible to specify to which clip the acquiredmark time information corresponds (the marking timing for which clip isrepresented by the acquired mark time information).

Specifically, the correspondence relationship between the acquired marktime information and the clip is specified in reference to the cliptable with the registered marker ID and by specifying a clip, which isassociated with a recording start time having a minimum time differencefrom the time represented by the acquired mark time information, fromamong the clips associated with a recording start time temporallyearlier than the time represented by the acquired mark time information.In other words, a clip associated with a recording start time earlierthan and temporally closest to the time represented by the acquired marktime information is specified.

In this case, synchronization between the clocked time in the markerapparatus 2 and the clocked time in the video camera apparatus 3 is madethrough the above-described pairing. Therefore, the correspondencerelationship between the mark time information and the clip isaccurately specified on the basis of the clip recording start time.

If the correspondence relationship between the mark time informationacquired in the above-described manner and the clip is specified, asshown in <8>, mark time→time code conversion is performed. As describedabove, in this example, the time code is put as information representingthe position on the time axis of the clip. From this viewpoint, like themark table shown in FIG. 2, information about the mark position put onthe clip is managed by the time code.

Under this situation, in this example, it is necessary to convert theacquired mark time information into information about the time coderepresenting a time length elapsed since the recording start time of thecorresponding clip.

The correspondence relationship between the pre-acquired mark timeinformation and the clip is specified by the operation of <7>. Time codeconversion in <8> is performed by calculating a difference between atime represented by the acquired mark time information and the recordingstart time of the corresponding clip in the clip table on the basis ofinformation about the correspondence relationship.

If time code conversion is performed by the operation of <8>, as shownin <9>, the mark table is updated (generated).

When mark time information corresponding to a clip being currentlyrecorded is initially acquired, there is no mark table for the clipbeing recorded. Therefore, in this case, a new mark table is generatedon the basis of the acquired mark time information.

Specifically, a mark table in which the information about the time codeobtained by time code conversion of the acquired mark time informationand the information about the clip No. of the clip being recorded arestored is newly generated. As described above, in this example, theinformation “No Title” is stored as the title information for each markposition in the mark table.

When the acquired mark time information corresponds to the clipgenerated in the mark table beforehand, the time code informationobtained by time code conversion of the acquired mark time information(and the information “No Title”) is added to the existing mark table toupdate the mark table.

Note that, when the mark table is newly generated for the clip beingrecorded in the above-described manner, information about the generatedmark table is recorded onto the optical disk D with a predeterminedtiming after clip recording ends, for example.

Even if the existing mark table is updated, while clip recording isbeing performed, the updated mark table cannot be recorded onto theoptical disk D. For this reason, the mark table is recorded onto theoptical disk D with a predetermined timing after clip recording ends.

In the above-described manner, according to the marking system 1 of thisembodiment, the marking timing on a clip can be designated by the markerapparatus 2 provided separately from the video camera apparatus 3.

Accordingly, the marking timing can be designated by a person, otherthan a cameraman, who holds the marker apparatus 2. As a result, themarking timing can be designated reliably and with appropriate timing,as compared with a case where the cameraman should operate the markbutton provided in the camera main body to designate the marking timing,like in the known coverage system.

In this embodiment, clocked time synchronization is performed beforehandbetween the marker apparatus 2 and the video camera apparatus 3. If timesynchronization is performed beforehand, the marking position accuracycan be increased.

Specifically, in this embodiment, while the mark position on the clip ismanaged by the time code, if time synchronization is performedbeforehand, time code conversion is accurately performed on the basis ofthe information about the recording start time of the clip. As a result,the marking position accuracy is improved.

In this embodiment, the marker ID 11 b is allocated to the markerapparatus 2, and the marker ID 11 b is registered in the video cameraapparatus 3 beforehand. Marking is carried out on the clip only on thebasis of the mark time information from the marker apparatus 2 with amarker ID identical to the registered marker ID 11 b.

Therefore, unintended marking is prevented from being carried out basedon mark time information transmitted from the marker apparatus 2, whichis not registered beforehand.

In this embodiment, the marker apparatus 2 transmits the mark timeinformation in the form of a list, together with previous mark timeinformation acquired by the button operation. Therefore, receptionleakage of mark time information in the video camera apparatus 3 isprevented. From this viewpoint, accurate marking is carried out.

[Processing Procedure]

Next, a processing procedure that should be executed in implementationof the above-described operation of the first embodiment will bedescribed with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 8 to 11.

In the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 to 11, the processing procedure in themarker apparatus 2 corresponds to a processing procedure to be executedby the CPU 10 on the basis of the control program 11 a. The processingprocedure in the video camera apparatus 3 corresponds to a processingprocedure to be executed by the CPU 30 on the basis of the markingprogram.

FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure that should be executed at the timeof pairing before coverage, which has been described with reference toFIG. 5A.

First, in Step S101 of the drawing, the video camera apparatus 3 waitsuntil it is time that pairing should start. As described above, thepairing start instruction is carried out by assigning the function item“Pairing” on the function display screen to be displayed by the videocamera apparatus 3. For this reason, in Step S101, the process waitsuntil an operation to assign the item “Pairing” on the function displayscreen is made.

When the item “Pairing” is assigned and it is time that pairing shouldstart, in Step S102, it is discriminated whether or not communicationwith the marker apparatus 2 is possible. That is, it is discriminatedwhether or not the USB connection terminal 2A of the marker apparatus 2is connected to the USB connection terminal 3A shown in FIG. 4, andcommunication with the marker apparatus 2 is possible.

In Step S102, when a negative result is obtained that communication withthe marker apparatus 2 is not possible, as shown in the drawing, theprocessing operation shown in the drawing ends.

In Step S102, when a positive result is obtained that communication withthe marker apparatus 2 is possible, the process progresses to Step S103,and a transfer request for the current time information and the markerID is made. That is, the USB interface 35 is controlled such that therequest to transfer (transmit) the current time information and themarker ID is made for the marker apparatus 2.

In Step S201 of the drawing, the marker apparatus 2 waits for thetransfer request from the video camera apparatus 3. When the transferrequest is made, in Step S202, a transfer processing of the current timeinformation and the marker ID is executed. That is, the USB interface 15is controlled such that the current time information clocked by theclocking unit 13 and the information about the marker ID 11 b stored inthe memory unit 11 are transferred (transmitted) to the video cameraapparatus 3.

After the transfer processing of Step S202 is executed, the processingprocedure in the marker apparatus 2 shown in the drawing ends.

After the transfer request is made in Step S103, in Step S104 of thedrawing, the video camera apparatus 3 waits until various kinds ofinformation (the current time information and the marker ID 11 b) arereceived from the marker apparatus 2.

When the current time information and the information about the markerID 11 b are received from the marker apparatus 2, in Step S105,synchronization between time information being clocked and the receivedtime is executed. That is, the clocked time information of the clockingunit 28 is corrected on the basis of the time information received fromthe marker apparatus 2.

Next, in Step S106, a processing to register the received marker ID asan object marker ID is executed. That is, the received marker ID 11 b isregistered as ID information regarding the marker apparatus 2 subject topairing.

After Step S106 is executed, the processing operation shown in thedrawing ends.

FIG. 9 shows a processing procedure to generate a clip table in thevideo camera apparatus 3.

In FIG. 9, in Step S301, it first waits until it is time that cliprecording should start. As described above, clip recording onto theoptical disk D starts in accordance with the operation of the recordingstart button provided in the operation unit 27. Therefore, in Step S301,it waits until operation input information according to the recordingstart button is supplied from the operation unit 27.

When the operation of the recording start button is made and it is timethat clip recording should start, in Step S302, a processing to acquirecurrent time information is executed. That is, the current timeinformation clocked by the clocking unit 28 is acquired. The currenttime information acquired in Step S302 may be handled as the informationabout recording start time of the clip.

Next, in Step S303, it is discriminated whether or not a clip isunrecorded onto the optical disk D.

In the above-described manner, the video camera apparatus 3 reads outmanagement information or the like recorded onto the optical disk D withthe timing at which the optical disk D is loaded, and determines whetherthe clip table is recorded or unrecorded. The determination processingin Step S303 is executed on the basis of information about thepreliminary determination result.

In Step S303, when a positive result is obtained that a clip table isnot recorded onto the optical disk D, and a clip is unrecorded, theprocess progresses to Step S305, and a clip table in which theregistered ID, the recorded clip No., and the acquired time informationare stored is generated. That is, a clip table in which the informationabout the marker ID registered in Step S106 of FIG. 8, the informationabout the clip No. allocated to the clip being currently recorded, andthe time information (recording start time information) acquired in StepS302 are stored in the format shown in FIG. 6 is generated.

After Step S305 is executed, the processing operation shown in thedrawing ends.

In Step S303, when a negative result is obtained that a clip table isrecorded onto the optical disk D, and a clip is recorded, the processprogresses to Step S304, and it is discriminated whether or not there isa clip table with a marker ID identical to the registered marker ID.

As the information about the clip table to be used in Step S304,information which is read by reading the above-described managementinformation at the time of disc loading and retained in the memory unit29 is used.

In Step S304, when a negative result is obtained that there is no cliptable with a marker ID identical to the registered marker ID, theprocess progresses to Step S305 described above, and a new clip tablewith the registered marker ID is generated.

In Step S304, when a positive result is obtained that there is a cliptable with a marker ID identical to the registered marker ID, theprocess progresses to Step S306, and information update is performed soas to add the recorded clip No. and the acquired time information to thecorresponding clip table. That is, the information contents of thecorresponding clip table are updated such that the information about theclip No. allocated to the clip being currently recorded and the timeinformation (recording start time information) acquired in Step S302 areadded to the corresponding clip table that is read out from the opticaldisk D and retained in the memory unit 29 beforehand (a clip table witha marker ID identical to the registered marker ID).

After Step S306 is executed, the processing operation shown in thedrawing ends.

Though not shown, as described above, the information about the cliptable newly generated when clip recording starts is recorded onto theoptical disk D with a predetermined timing, for example, with the timingat which clip recording ends. Specifically, the CPU 30 controls themedia drive 25 such that the clip table generated in Step S305 isrecorded onto the optical disk D when clip recording ends.

Even if the information contents of the clip table with a marker IDidentical to the registered marker ID are updated in Step S306, theinformation about the updated clip table is recorded onto the opticaldisk D with a predetermined timing, such as, with the timing at whichclip recording ends.

FIG. 10 shows a processing procedure in the marker apparatus 2 at thetime of coverage.

As described above, at the time of coverage, the marker apparatus 2transmits the time list at a predetermined time interval. For thisreason, in Step S401 of the drawing, time count first starts.

Next, in Step S402, it is discriminated whether or not a buttonoperation is made. That is, it is discriminated whether or not anoperation input signal corresponding to the above-described mark buttonis supplied from the operation unit 12.

In Step S402, when a positive result is obtained that the operationinput signal corresponding to the mark button is supplied and the buttonoperation is made, the process progresses to Step S403, and the currenttime information clocked by the clocking unit 13 is acquired.

Next, in Step S404, an addition processing of the acquired current timeinformation to the time list as the mark time information is executed.

In the processing of Step S404, when a time list is not generated, themark time information is not “added” to the existing time list, but atime list in which the marker ID 11 b and the acquired time informationare stored in the format shown in FIG. 7 is newly generated.

After Step S404 is executed, as shown in the drawing, the processreturns to the button operation standby processing of Step S402, andaccordingly a time list is added to the mark time information each timebutton operation is made.

In Step S402, when a negative result is obtained that the operationinput signal corresponding to the mark button is not supplied and buttonoperation is not made, the process progresses to Step S405, and it isdiscriminated whether or not a predetermined time elapses.

In Step S405, when a negative result is obtained that the predeterminedtime does not elapse, the process progresses to Step S402.

In Step S405, when a positive result is obtained that the predeterminedtime elapses, the process progresses to Step S406, and a processing totransmit the time list to the video camera apparatus is executed. Thatis, the wireless communication unit 14 is controlled to transmit thetime list to the video camera apparatus 3.

After Step S407 is executed, the process returns to Step S402.

FIG. 11 shows a processing procedure in the video camera apparatus 3 atthe time of coverage.

Referring to FIG. 11, in Step S501, it first waits until a time list isreceived. When a time list is received from the marker apparatus 2through the wireless communication unit 34, the process progress to StepS502, and a marker ID is extracted from the time list.

Next, in Step S503, it is discriminated whether or not the marker ID isidentical to the registered marker ID. That is, it is discriminatedwhether or not the marker ID extracted (acquired) in Step S502 isidentical to the marker ID registered in Step S106 of FIG. 8.

In Step S503, when a negative result is obtained that the marker IDs arenot identical, the process returns to Step S501. Therefore, unintendedmarking is prevented from being carried out on the basis of the timelist from the marker apparatus 2 which is not registered beforehand.

In Step S503, when a positive result is obtained that the marker IDs areidentical, the process progresses to Step S504, and unacquired mark timeinformation is acquired from the received time list.

Next, in Step S505, a processing to specify a clip corresponding to theacquired mark time information is executed on the basis of theinformation contents of the clip table with the registered marker ID.

As described above, the correspondence relationship of the acquired marktime information and the clip is specified in reference to the cliptable with the registered marker ID and by specifying a clip, which isassociated with a recording start time having a minimum time differencefrom the time represented by the acquired mark time information, fromamong the clips associated with a recording start time temporallyearlier than the time represented by the acquired mark time information.

Next, in Step S506, mark time→time code conversion is performed. Thatis, the time length of a difference between the time represented by theacquired mark time information and the recording start time of the clipstored in the clip table corresponding to the acquired mark timeinformation is calculated to obtain time code information.

Next, in Step S507, the mark table is updated (generated).

As described above, when the mark time information corresponding to theclip being currently recorded is initially acquired, there is no marktable for the clip being recorded. Therefore, a new mark table isgenerated on the basis of the acquired mark time information.Specifically, a mark table in which the time code information obtainedby time code conversion of the acquired mark time information and theinformation about the clip No. allocated to the clip being recorded arestored is generated. In this case, the information “No Title” is storedas the title information for each mark position in the mark table.

When the acquired mark time information corresponds to the clipgenerated in the mark table beforehand, the mark table is updated suchthat the time code information obtained by time code conversion of theacquired mark time information (and the information “No Title”) is addedto the mark table of the clip.

As will be described below, when a mark table is newly generated for theclip being recorded in the above-described manner, the information aboutthe generated mark table is recorded onto the optical disk D with apredetermined timing after clip recording ends, for example.Specifically, in this case, the CPU 30 controls the media drive 25 suchthat the information about the newly generated mark table is recordedonto the optical disk D when clip recording ends.

Even if the mark table is updated, while a clip is being recorded, themark table is recorded onto the optical disk D when clip recording ends.

After Step S507 is executed, the process returns to Step S501, andaccordingly it waits until a time list is received from the markerapparatus 2 again.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment in which markingis carried out at the time of coverage, marking is carried out aftercoverage.

While during coverage, it is necessary to transmit a time list from amarker apparatus to a video camera apparatus 3 in a wireless manner,after coverage, a time list may be transmitted in a wired manner. Fromthis viewpoint, in the following description, a case where transmissionof a time list after coverage is performed through USB connection of themarker apparatus and the video camera apparatus will be described.

FIG. 12 shows the internal configuration of a marker apparatus 40 of thesecond embodiment. FIG. 13 shows the internal configuration of a videocamera apparatus 41 of the second embodiment. In FIGS. 12 and 13, thesame parts as those described in the first embodiment are represented bythe same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 12, the marker apparatus 40 is different from the markerapparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3 in that no wireless communication unit 14 isprovided. There is also a difference in that, instead of the controlprogram 11 a of the memory unit 11, a control program 11 c that causesthe CPU 10 to execute a processing, which should be executed inimplementation of an operation described below of the second embodiment,is stored.

In FIG. 13, the video camera apparatus 41 is different from the videocamera apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 4 in that no wireless communicationunit 34 is provided, and instead of the marking program 29 a, a markingprogram 29 b that causes the CPU 30 to execute a processing, whichshould be executed in implementation of an operation of the secondembodiment, is stored.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams schematically showing an operation of thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 14A schematically shows the operation in the marker apparatus 40 atthe time of coverage. FIG. 14B schematically shows the operation of themarker apparatus 40 and the video camera apparatus 41 after coverage.

Though not shown, in this case, before coverage, the same pairing asdescribed in the first embodiment is executed between the markerapparatus 40 and the video camera apparatus 41. That is, beforecoverage, clocked time synchronization is performed between the markerapparatus 40 and the video camera apparatus 41, and the marker ID of themarker apparatus 40 is registered with respect to the video cameraapparatus 41.

Referring to FIG. 14A, at the time of coverage, the operation of themarker apparatus 40 is different from the operation of the markerapparatus 2 according to the first embodiment at the time of coverage inthat the operation to transmit the time list at a predetermined timeinterval is not provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 14A, at the time ofcoverage, the marker apparatus 40 performs only an operation to acquiretime information at the time of button operation as mark timeinformation (<1> in the drawing), and an operation to add the mark timeinformation to the time list (<2> in the drawing).

In the second embodiment, after coverage, the marker apparatus 40 isUSB-connected to the video camera apparatus 41, such that the time listin the marker apparatus 40 is transmitted (transferred) to the videocamera apparatus 41.

In FIG. 14B, after coverage, the video camera apparatus 41 requests themarker apparatus 40 to transfer the time list, as shown in <1>.

In this instance, in the video camera apparatus 41, the transfer requestis made on the basis of the user's operation. Specifically, in thiscase, the video camera apparatus 41 has a function to display the samefunction display screen as described above, and the function item “TimeList Import” is displayed in the function display screen. In the videocamera apparatus 41, when the item “Time List Import” is assigned by theuser's operation in a state where the function display screen isdisplayed, the transfer request of the time list to the marker apparatus40 is made.

When the transfer request of the time list is made from the video cameraapparatus 41, the marker apparatus 40 transfers the time list to thevideo camera apparatus 41, as shown in <2>.

If the time list is received in <3> of the drawing, the video cameraapparatus 41 checks whether or not a marker ID is registered beforehand,as shown in <4>. That is, in this case, it is assumed that pairing isperformed beforehand between the marker apparatus 40 and the videocamera apparatus 41 in the above-described manner. For this reason, itis checked whether or not the marker ID registered through pairing andthe marker ID extracted from the received time list are identical.

In this case, when the received marker ID is not identical to theregistered marker ID, marking is not carried out on the basis of thereceived time list. With the authentication based on the registeredmarker ID, in this case, unintended marking is also prevented.

In the second embodiment in which marking is carried out after coverage,the user connects the marker apparatus 40 to the video camera apparatus41 for marking on a clip recorded onto the optical disk D loaded in thevideo camera apparatus 41. In this case, if any notification is not madeand marking is not carried out as described above, the user may beconfused.

Accordingly, in the second embodiment, as described above, when themarker IDs are not identical, a notification purporting that anincorrect marker apparatus 40 not paired beforehand is connected is madeto the user (not shown). Specifically, a predetermined message, forexample, “It is not a paired marker.” or the like, is displayed on thedisplay unit 32. Therefore, a notification that marking is not carriedout and the reasons can be appropriately made to the user, and thus theuser can be prevented from being confused.

When the marker IDs are identical, marking is carried out on the basisof the received time list by the operations in <5> and later of thedrawing. Specifically, marking is performed for a clip recorded onto theoptical disk D at the time of coverage by the operation in <5> tospecify the correspondence relationship between the mark timeinformation in the time list and the clip, the mark time→time codeconversion operation in <6>, and the operation in <7> to update(generate) the mark table.

The operations in <5> to <7> are the same as those in the firstembodiment, and thus further descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In this way, according to the second embodiment, the video cameraapparatus 41 can execute collective marking after coverage on the basisof the mark time information accumulated by the marker apparatus 40 atthe time of coverage.

A processing procedure in implementation of the operation describedabove according to the second embodiment will be described withreference to flowcharts of FIGS. 15 and 16.

Note that, in this case, a processing for pairing before coverage shownin FIG. 8 is performed for the marker apparatus 40 and the video cameraapparatus 41.

In this case, similarly to the video camera apparatus 3 of the firstembodiment, the video camera apparatus 41 also generates the clip tableshown in FIG. 9 and records the generated clip table onto the opticaldisk D.

FIG. 15 shows a procedure of a processing which should be executed inthe marker apparatus 40 at the time of coverage. In FIG. 15, theprocessing procedure which should be executed in the marker apparatus 40at the time of coverage corresponds to the processing procedure to beexecuted by the CPU 10 shown in FIG. 12 on the basis of the controlprogram 11 c in the memory unit 11.

As will be understood by comparison of the processing procedure shown inFIG. 15 and the processing procedure shown in FIG. 10, the processingprocedure by the marker apparatus 40 at the time of coverage correspondsto a processing procedure in which a processing to transmit a time listat a predetermined time interval is removed from the processingprocedure at the time of coverage shown in FIG. 10.

Specifically, in Step S601 of the drawing, it waits until a buttonoperation (mark button operation) is made, and if the button operationis made, in Step S602, current time information is acquired. Thereafter,in Step S603, the acquired current time information is added to the timelist as mark time information. After Step S603 is executed, the processreturns to the standby processing of Step S601.

Steps S602 and S603 are the same as Steps S403 and S404 described withreference to FIG. 10, and thus further descriptions thereof will beomitted.

FIG. 16 shows a processing procedure that should be executed in themarker apparatus 40 and the video camera apparatus 41 after coverage.

In FIG. 16, the processing procedure that should be executed in themarker apparatus 40 corresponds to the processing procedure to beexecuted by the CPU 10 shown in FIG. 12 on the basis of the controlprogram 11 c in the memory unit 11. The processing procedure that shouldbe executed in the video camera apparatus 41 corresponds to theprocessing procedure to be executed by the CPU 30 shown in FIG. 13 onthe basis of the marking program 29 b in the memory unit 29.

In Step S801 of the drawing, the video camera apparatus 41 first waitsuntil it is time that import should start. That is, it waits until aprescribed trigger to start to import the time list from the markerapparatus 40 occurs, for example, the function item “Time List Import”is assigned in a state where the above-described function display screenis displayed.

When a predetermined trigger occurs, for example, the function item“Time List Import” is assigned by the user's operation, in Step S802, itis discriminated whether or not communication with the marker apparatus40 is possible. That is, it is discriminated whether or not the USBconnection terminal 2A of the marker apparatus 40 is connected to theUSB connection terminal 3A shown in FIG. 13, and communication with themarker apparatus 40 is possible.

In Step S802, when a negative result is obtained that communication withthe marker apparatus 40 is not possible, as shown in the drawing, theprocessing operation shown in the drawing ends.

In Step S802, when a positive result is obtained that communication withthe marker apparatus 40 is possible, the process progresses to StepS803, and a transfer request for the time list is made to the markerapparatus 40. That is, the USB interface 35 is controlled such that thetransfer request for the time list is made to the marker apparatus 40.

In Step S701 of the drawing, the marker apparatus 40 waits for thetransfer request from the video camera apparatus 41. When the transferrequest is made, in Step S702, the time list is transferred. That is,the USB interface 15 is controlled such that information about the timecode which is generated (updated) through the processing shown in FIG.15 and retained, for example, in the memory unit 11 is transferred(transmitted) to the video camera apparatus 41.

After the transfer processing of Step S702 is executed, the processingoperation of the marker apparatus 40 shown in the drawing ends.

After the transfer request is made in Step S803, in Step S804 of thedrawing, the video camera apparatus 41 waits until the information aboutthe time list is received from the marker apparatus 40.

When the information about the time list is received from the markerapparatus 40, in Step S805, a marker ID is extracted from the receivedtime list, and in Step S806, it is discriminated whether or not themarker ID is identical to the registered marker ID. That is, it isdiscriminated whether or not the marker ID registered through pairingbefore coverage and the marker ID extracted in Step S805 are identical.

In Step S806, when a negative result is obtained that the marker IDs arenot identical, the process progresses to Step S811, and an errorprocessing is executed. In the error processing of Step S811, aninstruction is made to the display control unit 31 such that, forexample, a predetermined message, “It is not a paired marker.” isdisplayed on the display unit 32.

With this error processing, a notification purporting that the connectedmarker apparatus 40 is not paired beforehand, and marking is not carriedout can be made, and as a result, the user can be prevented from beingconfused.

In Step S806, when a positive result is obtained that the marker IDs areidentical, the process progresses to Step S807, and a processing formarking based on the received time list is executed through Steps S807to S810.

The processing for marking based on the received time list through StepsS807 to S810 is the same as the processing through Steps S504 to S507described with reference to FIG. 11, and thus a further descriptionthereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, in the second embodiment, after coverage, the user connectsthe marker apparatus 40 to the video camera apparatus 41 so as toperform marking. Accordingly, it may not be assumed that, like the firstembodiment, Steps S807 to S810 are executed while a clip is beingrecorded onto the optical disk D. For this reason, in the secondembodiment, the information about the mark table updated (generated) inStep S810 can be immediately recorded onto the optical disk D.Alternatively, the mark table to be recorded onto the optical disk D maybe directly updated.

In the above description, with respect to marking after coverage,marking (mark table update/generation and mark table recording onto theoptical disk D) is carried out by the video camera apparatus 41.Alternatively, marking after coverage may be carried out by an editioninstrument 45, which is used to edit a clip recorded by the video cameraapparatus 41.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing an operation when marking iscarried out by the edition instrument 45.

As shown in FIG. 17, even though marking is carried out by the editioninstrument 45 after coverage, pairing is first performed between themarker apparatus 40 and the video camera apparatus 41 before coverage.That is, time synchronization between the marker apparatus 40 and thevideo camera apparatus 41 is performed, and the marker ID 11 b to bestored in the marker apparatus 40 is registered in the video cameraapparatus 41.

In this case, at the time of coverage, the user operates the mark buttonof the marker apparatus 40 to designate the marking timing, to therebycause the marker apparatus 40 to generate the time list. The operationtill coverage is the same as described with reference to FIG. 14A.

At the time of coverage, the video camera apparatus 41 records the cliptable onto the optical disk D in accordance with clip recording (see theflowchart of FIG. 9). Accordingly, with respect to the optical disk D, aclip to be recoded onto the optical disk D, the recording start time ofthe clip, and information indicating the clip is recorded after pairingwith which marker apparatus 40 are recorded onto the optical disk D.

Note that, in this case, pairing is performed beforehand between themarker apparatus 40 and the video camera apparatus 41, and as a result,the information about the recording start time in the clip table can bebased on the time synchronized with the marker apparatus 40.

The edition instrument 45 carries out marking on the clip to be recordedonto the loaded optical disk D using information about the clip table tobe recorded onto the optical disk D in such a manner.

Specifically, in this case, after coverage, the marker apparatus 40 isUSB-connected to the edition instrument 45. The edition instrument 45also has a function to display the same function display screen asdescribed above, and the function item “Time List Import” is displayedin the function display screen. In the edition instrument 45, if theitem “Time List Import” is assigned by the user's operation, a transferrequest for a time list is made to the marker apparatus 40.

In this way, the marking operation on the clip to be recorded onto theloaded optical disk D after the request for the time list is made is thesame as the operation in the video camera apparatus 41 described withreference to FIG. 14B, and thus a further description thereof will beomitted.

Meanwhile, in this case, preliminary pairing with the marker apparatus40 is performed with respect to the video camera apparatus 41, andaccordingly there is no information about the registered marker ID inthe edition instrument 45. From this viewpoint, in the editioninstrument 45, the operation in <4> shown in FIG. 14B (the operation tocheck whether or not the marker ID is registered beforehand) is notexecuted.

Alternatively, in this case, as the operation in <5> to specify thecorrespondence relationship, on the basis of the information contents ofthe clip table with a marker ID identical to a marker ID in the timelist, it is specified which clip the respective mark time information inthe time list corresponds to. Accordingly, a clip to be marked islimited to clips that are recorded by the video camera apparatus 41which is paired beforehand with the marker apparatus 40 connected to theedition instrument 45, and as a result, marking can be prevented frombeing carried out on an unintended clip.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of theedition instrument 45 in implementation of the above-describedoperation.

In FIG. 18, the same parts as those described above are represented bythe same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In the edition instrument 45, as compared with the video cameraapparatus 41 shown in FIG. 13, the camera block 20, the captured imagesignal processing unit 21, the encoder 22, the camera control unit 23,and the time code generation unit 24 are removed, and an editionprocessing unit 46 and an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 47 are added.

The edition processing unit 46 and the HDD 47 are connected to the CPU30 through the bus 26.

The edition processing unit 46 performs edition for the clips recordedonto the optical disk D. The contents of the edition may include, forexample, cutting of assigned sections, clip linking, and the like.

The HDD 47 stores various kinds of data in accordance with aninstruction of the CPU 30. For example, the HDD 47 is used to store theclips after edition by the edition processing unit 46.

In this case, in implementation of the operation in the editioninstrument 45 described with reference to FIG. 17, the CPU 30 executesprocessing on the basis of the marking program 29 b. The processing thatshould be executed by the edition instrument 45 for marking is just thesame as the processing of the video camera apparatus 41 shown in FIG.16, and the processing for preliminary pairing does not need to beexecuted. That is, in this case, in the marking program 29 b, a programthat executes the processing for preliminary pairing with the markerapparatus 40 (the processing of the video camera apparatus in FIG. 8) isomitted.

With this configuration, in the edition instrument 45, preliminaryregistration is not executed with respect to the marker apparatus 40.For this reason, the discrimination in Step S804 and the errorprocessing in Step S811 are omitted. In addition, in Step S808, ratherthan that “on the basis of the information contents of the clip tablewith a marker ID identical to the registered marker ID, it is specifiedwhich clip the acquired mark time information corresponds to”, “on thebasis of the information contents of the clip table with a marker IDidentical to a marker ID extracted from the time list, it is specifiedwhich clip the acquired mark time information corresponds to”.

As will be understood from the above description, when marking iscarried out by the edition instrument 45 after coverage, it ischaracterized that pairing is performed between the marker apparatus 40and the video camera apparatus 41, and the video camera apparatus 41generates and records the clip table (including the registered markerID). Accordingly, the clip table with a maker ID of the pre-registeredmarker apparatus 40 can be recorded onto the optical disk D to be loadedin the edition instrument 45 after coverage. As a result, on the basisof the information about the clip table recorded onto the optical disk Dand using the marker ID of the connected marker apparatus 40, in theedition instrument 45, marking can be prevented from being carried outon an unintended clip.

<Modifications>

While the embodiments of the invention have been described above, theinvention should not be limited to the specific examples describedabove.

For example, with respect to a clip marking method, the invention shouldnot be limited to the format of the mark table described above. Markingmay be carried out by other methods.

In the above description, as the first embodiment, when marking iscarried out at the time of coverage, authentication using the registeredmarker ID (check whether or not information about the received marker IDis identical to the registered marker ID) is executed. Alternatively, inthe first embodiment, the authentication by the registered marker ID maybe omitted.

As described above, if pairing is performed beforehand with the markerapparatus 2, the marker ID of the paired marker apparatus 2 can be puton the clip table. From this viewpoint, at the time of coverage, if thecorrespondence relationship is specified only for a clip table with amarker ID identical to the registered marker ID in Step S505 of FIG. 11,marking based on the mark time information from the marker apparatus 2,which is not registered beforehand, can be automatically prevented.Therefore, marking can be prevented from being carried out on anunintended clip, and as a result, the authentication using theregistered marker ID (Step S503 of FIG. 11) can be omitted.

In other words, this represents that, when marking is carried out at thetime of coverage, it is not necessary to put the registered marker ID onthe clip table. That is, when marking is carried out at the time ofcoverage, if the authentication using the registered marker ID isperformed, even though a time list is received from another markerapparatus 2 which is not registered beforehand, the processing tospecify the correspondence relationship in Step S505 and later is notexecuted. For this reason, in Step S505, the correspondence relationshipis simply specified only on the basis of the recording start timeinformation in the clip table. As a result, an appropriatecorrespondence relationship can be specified. From this viewpoint, whenmarking is carried out at the time of coverage, it is not necessary toput the registered marker ID on the clip table.

The same is applied to a case where the video camera apparatus 41performs marking after coverage.

That is, even when the video camera apparatus 41 performs marking aftercoverage, in Step S808 of FIG. 16, “on the basis of the informationcontents of the clip table with the registered marker ID, it isspecified which clip the acquired mark time information corresponds to”.Therefore, in Step S806 before then, even if the authentication usingthe registered marker ID is not performed, unintended marking can beprevented from being carried out.

To the contrary, in Step S806, if the authentication using theregistered marker ID is performed, in Step S808, even when thecorrespondence relationship is simply specified only on the basis of therecording start time in the clip table, unintended marking can beprevented from being carried out. In this case, therefore, if theauthentication using the registered marker ID is performed, it is notnecessary to put the registered marker ID on the clip table.

Note that, when marking is carried out by the edition instrument 45after coverage, it is effective for the video camera apparatus 41 to putthe registered marker ID on the clip table.

When marking is carried out by the edition instrument 45 after coverage,the optical disk D and the marker apparatus 40, which have nocorrespondence relationship, may be incorrectly loaded in and connectedto the edition instrument 45.

A specific example of such a case is exemplified.

For example, it is assumed that pairing is performed between a videocamera apparatus 41 (hereinafter, referred to as “camera A”) and amarker apparatus 40 (referred to as “marker A”), and then coverage(coverage A) is made by the camera A and the marker A in combination.

It is also assumed that pairing is performed between another videocamera apparatus 41 (referred to as “camera B”) and another markerapparatus 40 (referred to as “marker B”), and then another coverage(coverage B) is made by the camera B and the marker B in combination. Inthis case, it is assumed that the coverage B and the coverage A are madetemporally in parallel.

After coverage, the user who gives the coverage A loads the optical diskD, which was loaded in the camera A, in the edition instrument 45, andcauses the edition instrument 45 to carry out marking based on the timelist generated by the marker A.

In this instance, it is assumed that the user incorrectly connects themarker B to the edition instrument 45.

As described above, since the coverage A and the coverage B are madetemporally in parallel, in this case, if the correspondence relationshipbetween the clip and the mark time is specified only on the basis of theinformation about the recording start time in the clip table, marking iscarried out on a clip recorded by the coverage A on the basis of thetime list from the marker B, which is used for the coverage B, and as aresult, unintended marking is carried out.

In such a case, when marking is carried out by the edition instrument 45after coverage, it can be seen that it is effective to put theregistered marker ID on the clip table. That is, if the registeredmarker ID is put on the clip table, as described with reference to FIG.17, the edition instrument 45 can specify the correspondencerelationship between the clip and the mark time on the basis of theinformation contents of the clip table with a marker ID identical to themarker ID in the received time list. Therefore, in the above-describedcase, marking is not carried out on the clip recorded by the coverage Aon the basis of the time list from the marker B, which is used for thecoverage B, and as a result, unintended marking can be prevented frombeing carried out.

In the above description, a case where a marker ID is used in order toprevent unintended marking from being carried out has been described.Alternatively, on an assumption that the user adequately grasps thecorrespondence relationship between the clip and the marker apparatus,no marker ID is needed.

For example, when marking is carried out at the time of coverage, if nointerference with another marker apparatus 2 is ensured, for example, ifa single coverage team only uses a single marker apparatus 2, theauthentication using the registered marker ID is not particularlyneeded. The attachment of the marker ID 11 b to the marker apparatus 2and the discrimination of Step S503 in the video camera apparatus 3 canbe omitted.

Even when marking is carried out after coverage, if the user grasps thecorrespondence relationship between the marker apparatus 40 and thevideo camera apparatus 41, which are subjected to time synchronization,the attachment of marker ID 11 b to the marker apparatus 40 and theprocessing using the marker ID in a marking apparatus (the video cameraapparatus 41 or the edition instrument 45) after coverage (thediscrimination of Step S806, the error processing of Step S811, and aprocessing to limit the clip table for the processing to specify thecorrespondence relationship to a clip table with a predetermined markerID) are not needed.

From the above description, in the example where marking is carried outafter coverage, a case where the marker apparatus 40 is USB-connected(wired connection) to the marking apparatus has been described, butwireless connection may be applied. In this case, the wirelesscommunication unit 34 described with reference to FIG. 4 is preferablyprovided in each of the video camera apparatus 41 and the editioninstrument 45.

In the above description, a case where the marker apparatus and thevideo camera apparatus are connected to each other in a wired manner atthe time of pairing before coverage has been described, but pairing maybe performed through wireless communication.

When pairing is performed through wireless communication, the videocamera apparatus displays a communicable marker apparatus (for example,a marker ID) on the display unit 32. When there are a plurality ofcommunicable marker apparatuses, the user is requested to select one ofthe marker apparatuses. In this case, if the user reliably grasps thecorrespondence relationship between the marker apparatus and its ID,pairing is prevented between unintended apparatuses, but actually anincorrect marker apparatus may be erroneously selected.

To the contrary, in the case of wired connection, the apparatusessubject to pairing are physically connected to each other, and thus theabove-described erroneous selection is prevented.

In the first embodiment, the time list is transmitted from the markerapparatus 2 to the video camera apparatus 3 at a predetermined timeinterval, but the time list may be transmitted with a timing based onthe user's operation.

In the first embodiment, the acquired mark time information is listedand transferred as the time list, but the mark time information may besequentially transmitted to the video camera apparatus 3 each time themark time is assigned by the mark button operation.

In the above description, a case where the time code representing thetime length elapsed from the recording start time is put on the clip hasbeen described. Alternatively, when time information, instead of thetime code, is put, mark time information→time code conversion is notneeded.

In the above description, a case where direct wireless datacommunication with the external apparatus in the ad-hoc mode of wirelessLAN is performed has been described. Alternatively, networkcommunication with a network access point may be performed through thenear field wireless communication network.

The wireless communication system should not be limited to wireless LAN,but other systems, such as Bluetooth (Registered Trademark) and thelike, may be used.

In the above description, a case where an object to be marked is motionimage data has been described, but the invention may be favorablyapplied to a case where a mark is put on other kinds of time-seriesdata, such as sound data and the like.

In the above description, a case where the signal processing apparatususes an optical disk recording medium as a recording medium, onto whichtime-series data is recorded. Alternatively, time-series data may berecorded onto another recording medium having a semiconductor memory,such as a so-called memory card or the like.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A terminal apparatus comprising: an operation unit; a time clockingunit performing time clocking; a communication unit performingcommunication with an external apparatus; and a control unit, whereinthe control unit executes a time synchronization processing for clockedtime synchronization with the external apparatus having a time clockingunit, a time information acquisition processing to acquire clocked timeinformation by the time clocking unit with a timing at which anoperation is made on the operation unit, and a transmission controlprocessing to control the time information acquired by the timeinformation acquisition processing to be transmitted to the externalapparatus through the communication unit.
 2. The terminal apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit storingterminal identification information for identifying the terminalapparatus, wherein the control unit further executes an identificationinformation registration processing to register the terminalidentification information in the terminal apparatus by causing theterminal identification information to be transmitted to the externalapparatus through the communication unit, and in the transmissioncontrol processing, the terminal identification information iscontrolled to be transmitted together with the time information.
 3. Theterminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unitfurther executes a time list information generation processing to listthe time information acquired by the time information acquisitionprocessing together with time information previously acquired by thetime information acquisition processing, and to generate information, inwhich the terminal identification information is put on thecorresponding list, as time list information, and in the transmissioncontrol processing, the time list information generated by the time listinformation generation processing is controlled to be transmitted to theexternal apparatus.
 4. The terminal apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the communication unit performs communication with the externalapparatus in a wireless manner.
 5. The terminal apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein in the transmission control processing, the time listinformation is controlled to be transmitted to the external apparatus ata predetermined time interval.
 6. The terminal apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein in the transmission control processing, the time listinformation is controlled to be transmitted to the external apparatus inaccordance with a transmission request from the external apparatus. 7.The terminal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communicationunit performs communication with the external apparatus in a wirelessmanner.
 8. The terminal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thecommunication unit performs communication with the external apparatus ina wired manner.
 9. An information transmission method for a terminalapparatus, which includes a time clocking unit performing time clocking,the method comprising the steps of: performing time synchronization withan external apparatus having a time clocking unit; acquiring clockedtime information by the time clocking unit with a timing at which anoperation is made; and transmitting the time information acquired by theacquiring of the time information to the external apparatus.